ED contracts: Department of Education
The Department of Education posts its contract opportunities on SAM.gov. Below are the ones open right now, what ED buys, how much of its money goes to small businesses, and who wins its work.
- Open contracts now
- 3
- Contract spending, FY2026
- $2.8 billion
- Share to small businesses
- 18%
What ED is buying right now
NAICS codes on ED's open notices. Each notice's code sets the size standard for who counts as small.
| Code | Industry | Open now |
|---|---|---|
| 541720 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | 3 |
ED contract spending by year
| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | $2.7 billion |
| FY2025 | $2.5 billion |
| FY2026 | $2.8 billion |
| FY2027 (so far) | $0 |
The federal fiscal year starts October 1, so FY2027 began October 1, 2026.
What ED spends the most on
Industries with the most ED contract dollars over the last three fiscal years:
| NAICS | Industry | Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| 522390 | Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation | $3.6 billion |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | $1.8 billion |
| 541720 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $601.4 million |
| 541519 | Other Computer Related Services | $568.7 million |
| 522320 | Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities | $310 million |
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | $307.7 million |
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | $304.7 million |
| 522110 | Commercial Banking | $120.2 million |
Small business contracts at ED
About 18% of ED's contract dollars over the last three fiscal years went to small businesses. The government-wide goal is 23%.
Dollars awarded under each kind of set-aside in the same period:
- Small business: $294.1 million
- 8(a): $114.9 million
- HUBZone: $20.5 million
- Women-owned: $18.7 million
- Service-disabled veteran-owned: $5.9 million
Set-asides on ED's open notices right now:
- Total small business set-aside: 3
See which set-asides you may qualify for with the free SBA certification screener.
Who wins ED contracts
Companies with the most ED contract dollars over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Company | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Accenture Federal Services LLC | $1.1 billion |
| Nelnet Servicing LLC | $1.1 billion |
| Maximus Education LLC | $813.4 million |
| Edfinancial Services LLC | $706 million |
| Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority | $677.8 million |
| Maximus Federal Services, Inc. | $455.9 million |
| General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. | $270.2 million |
| Westat, Inc. | $229.9 million |
| Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC | $210.6 million |
| Educational Testing Service | $172.9 million |
Large primes subcontract part of their work to small businesses. Look up any small business's registration with the free CAGE code and UEI lookup.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find ED contract opportunities?
The Department of Education posts its contract opportunities on SAM.gov, the free official site. 3 are open right now. You can search them here by NAICS code, set-aside and state, and set up a free email alert for new ones.
How much does ED spend on contracts?
The Department of Education obligated about $2.8 billion on contracts in fiscal year 2026, according to USAspending.gov. About 18% of its contract dollars over the last three fiscal years went to small businesses.
Who are ED's biggest contractors?
Over the last three fiscal years, the companies with the most ED contract dollars were Accenture Federal Services LLC, Nelnet Servicing LLC and Maximus Education LLC, per USAspending.gov. Smaller firms often work as their subcontractors.
Who do I talk to about small business contracts at ED?
Federal law requires every agency with buying power to have an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), sometimes called the Office of Small Business Programs. Its staff help small businesses understand what the agency buys and how. Free counseling is also available from APEX Accelerators.
Keep going
- Contracts from other agencies
- How to find government contracts
- How to research an agency on USAspending.gov
- Free help from APEX Accelerators
FedReady is an independent company, not affiliated with the Department of Education, SAM.gov or any government agency. Open-contract counts come from SAM.gov and update daily; spending figures come from USAspending.gov and cover contracts only.